30/07/2025
Today (28th July) In History.
On 28th July 1969 (54 Years Ago), Merger Of Swat State Was Announced By General Yahya Khan. Thus The Twenty Years Reign Of Wali Sahib (1949-1969) Came To An End. Wali Sahib Wrote In His Autobiography About This Significant Event:
"It was on Friday morning, and the State was merged the following Monday, on the 28th of July 1969. When he was informed on the 25th, the Nawab of Dir was quite unconcerned - he said to me, subsequently: "My State has in effect already been merged. It is your State that is going now!" The Chief of Staff to General Yahya, General Pirzada, informed us that they would announce it on the 28th. Aurangzeb (Son of Wali Sahib) told him that the State should be merged peacefully and gradually: officials of the government should come and take charge. The answer was: "Don't you bother - it is our affair!" Aurangzeb and Pirzada did not have good relations; the latter used to be Military Secretary to Field Marshal Ayub Khan so they were personally acquainted. The merger was announced, and I told the Political Agent Malakand to come here and take over. He said: "I have no orders, how can I take over?" I said: "There is a vacuum! People know that the State has been merged, so 1 have no authority!" Some people told me to go to the office anyway -I said: "No. Nothing doing. I will not go. If there is some work that you deem it necessary for me to do, you can bring it here to me in my house. As regards cases, let the Mushirs decide them, or the Ministers." After three days, Humayun Khan was given the rank of District Commissioner: Political Agent Malakand plus D.C. Swat. He came here to Saidu, and he stayed with me, since he was my distant
relation and very great friend. After two or three days of his staying here, opposition people protested. "How can we approach the D.C.?
He is living with the Wali, the Wali is instructing him!" and so on. So he shifted to the Hotel. There was still no special order that I had lost my power, or that the Government had taken over the powers of the Ruler - not till the Commissioner was appointed and arrived on the 17th of August. So up to the 17th of August I was checking the treasury as usual every morning and the D.C. was consulting me: "What is your opinion about this and that?" When finally the Commissioner came, he took over the power. Humayun did not want to live here, and people kept grumbling that he was my relation, so he went back as Political Agent Malakand, and they appointed another D.C."
www.swatencyclopedia.com
